What are people's predictions for the regular season awards and the playoffs? Here are mine:

AWARDS

AL MVP: Miguel CabreraNL MVP: Joey Votto

AL Cy Young: Felix HernandezNL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

AL Rookie of Year: Neftali FelizNL Rookie of Year: Jason Heyward

Thoughts: Cabrera should get it, even thought Detroit faded badly after the all-star break. He was top 3 in a fair few statistical categories, and I think he lead the league in intentional walks too, which shows what a threat he is. Votto also had a great statistical year, and there's no way the Reds make the play-offs without him. I read a stat that Votto didn't hit an infield pop-up all season. That's insane.

Despite his crappy win-loss record, Felix definitely deserves the Cy Young. It's not his fault the Mariners have an absolutely awful offense. He lead ERA, was first in innings pitched, and 2nd in K's. Let's hope the voters use common sense, and don't give it to someone like Sabathia, who got to pitch behind the loaded Yankees offense. After the first half of the year, it's impossible to think that Ubaldo Jimenez wouldn't get the Cy Young, let alone fail to reach 20 wins. Crazy. Halladay gets it based on some very good numbers, but I don't think Adam Wainwright should be that far off in the voting either. Josh Johnson was in there with a shot at one stage too.

I think Feliz is clearly the AL Rookie of the Year. He set the rookie record for saves in a season, and it's not like there were too many other standout rookies in this league. If Carlos Santata had played a full season though, things might have been different. Austin Jackson will no doubt get a few votes. In the NL, the only reason Heyward will win is because he was in the lineup from Opening Day. This award should really go to Buster Posey, but I can't see him winning it, unfortunately.

Thoughts: The AL division play-offs should be awesome. I see both of them going to five games. Lots of big bats between those four teams, but I think the Yankees will be just too strong offensively for the Twins, while the Rays have slightly more reliable pitching then the Rangers (plus home field). In the NL, the Phillies will be far too strong for the Reds (Halladay and Oswalt and Hamels is a great 1-2-3), while the Giants will rely on strong starting pitching and a strong bullpen to outlast the Braves, who are just too inconsistent.

In the Championship series, the Yankees will again rely on their offense, and I predict a big postseason for Jeter and A-Rod. And Mariano Rivera will definitely decide 2-3 games. In the NL, I can't see the Giants putting up too much of a fight against the Phillies, who are just too strong, and will be spurred on by a raucous home crowd.

In the World Series, I think we'll see the same teams from last year, except the result will be reversed. I do think the Phillies will ride their 1-2-3 pitching combination, plus their bats in Utley and Howard and Werth, all the way to their second title in three seasons.

Thoughts: See Aussiebiedren's description... only difference is that I have Buster Posey as rooking of the year. Looking at his numbers (which is through 4, not 6, months), is amazing. There is no other rookie that means more to his team than Buster Posey. Yes, Heyward has better numbers, but once Posey was called up, Posey was immediately the better play and outperformed Heyward.

Thoughts: See Aussiebiedren's description... only difference is that I have Buster Posey as rooking of the year. Looking at his numbers (which is through 4, not 6, months), is amazing. There is no other rookie that means more to his team than Buster Posey. Yes, Heyward has better numbers, but once Posey was called up, Posey was immediately the better play and outperformed Heyward.

Big call on Giants over Phillies. But I can respect someone rooting for their home team. I mean, look at Pawno picking the Raiders to win the Super Bowl (Not that I'm comparing the Giants winning the World Series to the Raiders winning the Super Bowl; only one of those could actually happen!)

Anyway, what about Halladay's performance yesterday? The man is a machine!

What a series it's going to be between the Phillies and Giants. However, I feel as though the Giants would have a much better chance if this series were a best of 5. In a best of 7, I think Philly have the upper hand, as their offense is a lot more potent. But you never know...

Mr. Crackerz wrote:Giants need to be perfect in order to win this series. We have better pitching, but not by much. They have better hitting, and it's not even close.

I trust the Giants bullpen a lot more than I trust the Phillies bullpen. If the Giants can limit the Halladay/Oswalt/Hamels combo to around 6 innings each, they're in with a chance. Draw walks, drag out the at-bats, have someone other than Posey and Ross start hitting.

But like you say Crackerz, they will need to be close to perfect. Any thoughts on the AL series? I think Yankees will win, but I'm rooting for Texas.

I think we just need to get hot, all season we've been hot and cold - I'm feeling a heat wave comin on! No doubt our bullpen is better our starting pitching is about the same. If we can just have a couple of guys, hell even one guy other than Posey, get hot we stand a pretty good chance.

Pitching is the ultimate equalizer in playoff baseball. We are facing a line up that is full of strikeout machines and that's what our pitching staff does best. the Phillies bats are dangerous when they can make contact and we've got a group of young arms that can make you swing and miss all day.

Giants vs Rangers in the World Series, who would've thought that at the start of the Play-Offs?

It's an intriguing match-up for sure. I would say the Giants have a better starting rotation, and probably a slightly better bullpen, while the Rangers have a much more reliable offense.

But this postseason has been all about pitching, so the Giants are definitely in with a chance. I thought it would make sense for both teams to go to a three-man rotation in the WS, but that doesn't look like happening.

At gunpoint, I'm going to say Rangers in six. Either way, it's going to be a great series!